This blog presents current information related to the programme work of Soroptimist International- a service organization dedicated to advance causes and issues affecting women and girls in local communities and around the world
First report from Dawn Lynn Bowness, President SI Bangkok:
Attending the 63rd WHO Conference was useful. The 2010-2011 agendas of the regional health ministers and the WHO South-East Asia Regional Committee were presented and should allow some insight concerning Soroptimist International's inclusion at this conference and possible continued attendance at future conferences.
Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General of WHO, considers the health of women to be a key performance indicator of the World Health Organization. Among others, some of the highlights of her address were:
the globalization of processed foods putting populations at risk of chronic diseases and obesity
the growing responsibilities of government to health
addressing eco-chemicals
Watch this space for more from Dawn on the outcomes of the meeting!
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today began a massive drive to save the lives of over 16 million women and children, with more than $40 billion already committed to scale up health services worldwide.
“The 21st century must be and will be different for every woman and every child,” said Mr. Ban, who launched the Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health at UN Headquarters on the margins of a high-level summit on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The MDGs, a series of globally agreed social and economic targets with a 2015 deadline, include a number of health objectives, such as Goal 4 on reducing the mortality rate for children under the age of five by two thirds and Goal 5 on slashing maternal mortality rates by three quarters, both from their 1990 figures.
Today’s launch, which included the private sector, foundations, international organizations, civil society and research groups, represents a major step towards filling the gap between the investment needed and what is currently provided for women’s and children’s health – with over $40 billion in resources committed over the next five years.
“We know what works to save women’s and children’s lives, and we know that women and children are critical to all of the MDGs,” the Secretary-General noted. “Today we are witnessing the kind of leadership we have long needed.”
The Global Strategy identifies the finance and policy changes needed, along with vital interventions to help improve health and save lives. It is expected to prevent, between 2011 and 2015, the deaths of more than 15 million children under five, as well as 33 million unwanted pregnancies and the deaths of 740,000 women from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth.
To help ensure that it is successful, several agencies, including the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank are collaborating to mobilize ongoing political and operational support, including fighting for universal access to care for all women and children.
This team will identify and connect resources to the people who need them based on the priorities set by countries in their national health plans.
In addition, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations (GAVI) and the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria are working with this team to ensure integrated services and efforts across a range of health needs.
“The Global Strategy asks us to be smart, strategic and resourceful as never before,” said WHO Director-General Margaret Chan. “By integrating their actions, the eight international health-related agencies will strengthen capacities across the board, in ways that meet the comprehensive needs of women and children.”
Message on the International Day of Peace from the Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon
Today we observe the annual International Day of Peace – a day dedicated to ceasefire and non-violence. Peace is precious. It must be nurtured, maintained, defended.
That is why, each year on the International Day of Peace, I ring the Peace Bell at United Nations headquarters. And it is why – every day – I work for peace. I mediate between antagonists. I sound the alarm about threats – those we can see clearly, and others that lurk just over the horizon. I promote tolerance, justice and human rights, and I campaign for harmony among countries and peoples.
This year, Peace Day is dedicated to young people. This month marks the beginning of the International Year of Youth. Its theme of dialogue and mutual understanding captures the very essence of peace.
Young people today are at home with global diversity; comfortable in an interconnected world. Yet they are also vulnerable to the forces of extremism. So I say to all governments and our partners: let us do more for young people. Let us give them a world of peace and tolerance.
And I say to all young people: join us. Help us to work for peace. You are impatient. You see what we, your elders, allow to persist, year after year: poverty and hunger; injustice and impunity; environmental degradation.
With just five years remaining to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, I ask all, young and old, to help us to find global solutions to these global problems. Share your plans and ideas, act with creativity and passion. Help us fight for peace and prosperity for all.
To learn more about the International Day of Peace, its inspiring origins, stories from around the world, and ways YOU can get involved, please visit:
Please find below and attached the press release regarding the appointment of the new Under-Secretary-General, Michelle Bachelet, to UN Women. Also, you can find the Secretary General's transcript announcing Ms. Bachelet as the Head of UN Women here: http://www.unwomen.org/2010/09/secretary-generals-press-encounter-announcing-ms-michelle-bachelet-as-head-of-un-women/.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The GEAR Campaign Enthusiastically Welcomes the New Under-Secretary-General, Michelle Bachelet, Former Chilean President
(September 14, 2010) The Gender Equality Architecture Reform (GEAR) Campaign is thrilled that the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon has chosen Michelle Bachelet as the new Under-Secretary-General (USG) of UN Women. This appointment is essential to the effectiveness of the new entity and the campaign is pleased that the UN SG has selected a qualified and strong leader for this high level UN position that will envision and work for the future of women’s rights and advocate for women worldwide.
“Michelle Bachelet is a top notch choice and has long been one of GEAR’s dream candidates. An effective leader of great integrity, Bachelet has demonstrated strong commitment to women’s empowerment and the ability to shape gender equality policies in a variety of areas. She also has the stature to mobilize the resources crucial to make UN Women a success,” stated Charlotte Bunch, Center for Women’s Global Leadership (CWGL) at Rutgers University and a founding member of the GEAR Campaign.
The GEAR Campaign has developed criteria and questions for the new USG and is eager to begin conversations with her regarding her vision for UN Women. The campaign requests an open dialogue with civil society about the key priorities of the new entity and how UN Women will become a powerful voice for women and girls at the global, regional and local levels. As the new entity is being developed, civil society wants to be consulted and would like to hear from Bachelet how she plans to ensure meaningful participation with civil society and particularly women’s organizations from grassroots to international groups.
Bani Dugal of the Bahá'í International Community UN office shared that, “it is our hope that her experience of leadership in the international arena, her dedication to the advancement of women and girls, and her commitment to working with civil society and the women’s movement will guide the work of this ground-breaking entity and rally member states to strengthen their efforts to achieve the equality of women and men.”
This landmark decision comes at a critical juncture as the UN reforms its internal systems and has recently been seen as an exhausted and under-resourced international institution. UN Women can provide new vision and hope and will need to bridge governments and civil society as we progress into the 21st century and the GEAR Campaign will be there to support its leadership and maintain visibility throughout the transitional period and beyond.
Contact:
Charlotte Bunch, 732-642-5271 or cbunch@igc.org,
Bani Dugal, 646-404-4210 or bdugal@bic.org
Background
The GEAR Campaign is a network of over 300 women’s, human rights and social justice groups around the world that have been working for over four years to gain UN Member States and UN Secretariat approval for creation of a larger more coherent coordinated UN agency that can advance further the UN’s mandate of working for gender equality as a crucial component of development, human rights, humanitarian concerns, peace and security.
The new gender equality entity to be headed by an Under-Secretary-General, will consolidate the four existing UN bodies on women, increase operational capacity at the country level and gain increased funding for work on women’s empowerment and advancement. The UN currently has four separate entities dedicated to women’s issues which will be combined in the new entity: the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), the Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW), the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW), and the Office of the Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women (OSAGI). Combining these agencies and coordinating their work more with gender mainstreaming throughout the UN system will enable the UN and governments to deliver more effectively on their obligations and commitments to advance gender equality, women’s empowerment and women’s human rights.
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GEAR Campaign
http://www.gearcampaign.org
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NGO Committee on the Status of Women, New York
P.O. Box 3571
Grand Central Station
New York, NY 10163
Message from Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO:
"When a woman is literate, she can make choices to dramatically change her life for the better. But ten years into the 21st century, two in every three of the world’s 759 million illiterate adults are women. This is an intolerable situation reflecting one of the most persistent injustices of our times: unequal access to education.
There is no justification – be it cultural, economic or social – for denying girls and women an education. It is a basic right and an absolute condition for reaching all the internationally agreed development goals.
Illiteracy keeps women marginalized and constitutes a foremost obstacle to reducing extreme poverty in a technology-driven world where reading, writing and numeracy are indispensable for enjoying basic rights and opportunities.
For all these reasons, this year’s International Literacy Day puts the spotlight on the highly influential role that literacy plays in empowering women.
Acquiring literacy skills gives women a sense of self-confidence and control over their life and future. This is what empowerment is about: gaining the knowledge to make informed decisions, sharing power in the household and in wider political life. Testimonies from newly literate women bear witness to the far-reaching transformation that new knowledge and skills have on all aspects of their lives.
As the first woman elected to the post of Director-General of UNESCO, I am profoundly committed to advancing the rights of girls and women everywhere, especially through education. Gender equality is one of our global strategic priorities because there can be no sustainable development when women do not enjoy equal rights and opportunities.
Investing in women’s literacy carries very high returns: it improves livelihoods, leads to better child and maternal health, and favours girls’ access to education. In short newly literate women have a positive ripple effect on all development indicators.
This international day aims to mobilize everyone’s attention to the urgent need for increased commitment to literacy, especially for girls and women. UNESCO’s International Literacy Prizes provide inspiring and creative examples of programmes that have had a profound impact on individuals and their communities. They show what works and how well.
Over the past decade, the gender gap in education has narrowed in many countries. Gender parity in literacy has also improved, but all too slowly. Far more has to be done.
I take this occasion to call upon governments, international organizations, civil society and the private sector to scale up their support to literacy. I am confident that the momentum exists to make women’s literacy a priority: we have seen in the past months a bid to accelerate progress towards gender equality with the creation of UN Women.
Literacy gives women a voice – in their families, in political life and on the world stage. It is a first step towards personal freedom and broader prosperity. When women are literate, it is all society that gains."
Irina Bokova
Here are more links to learn about literacy and to celebrate International Literacy Day!
The additional resources links on this page are provided for information purposes only and do not necessarily represent an endorsement by the United Nations.
The WAGGGS delegation have been very busy here at the UN NGO/DPI conference. We have been focusing on getting gender equity included in the Declaration and building networks with the other amazing organizations here. We are very excited to see the outcome of our hard work and collaboration with many NGOs including Soroptimist International with the inclusion of a call of action in the Declaration to 'Ensure gender equality, empower women and expand programs to end violence against women.'
Our sincere thank you to Soroptimist International for all of your support over the past 2 days.
The WAGGGS Delegation
For a full story about WAGGGS at DPI/NGO please go to their website!
http://www.wagggsworld.org/en/events/20370
As a clinician (nurse), with a global appreciation of health service requirements in tertiary and primary health facilities, it was an interesting experience to listen and learn and be told how the complexities of delivering health systems impacts on multiple organisations at all levels of care. The models of care by large NGOs and also those of relatively small NGOs have the basic concept of providing care to disadvantaged minorities.
Following an amazing fact finding visit to birthing places in Papua New Guinea (PNG) the 10 days previously, I came to this convention thinking I would learn some amazing new strategies to enable Soroptimists to deliver projects more effectively and efficiently. Roundtables, workshops and discussions showed that most NGOs are all working towards the common goal of health and well being for all peoples, irrespective of any country or MDG.
The intrigue of different models of care delivery, negotiation strategies used with governments, pragmatic determination of movers and shakers, made illuminating discussion and debate. Identifying the movers and shakers and follow up with face to face introductions led me on a journey of information gathering and exchange. My intention was to make contact with as many delegates who may provide me with knowledge of skills that would assist me in the preparation and planning for the SISWP project in PNG “Birthing in the Pacific” (BIP).
I questioned the consultant who helped prepare the recently published PNG Health Plan, on how he could assure me that in his country, priority would be given to essential measures such as infection control, antenatal care, skilled attendance at birth, access to emergency obstetric care when necessary, post-partum care and newborn care. He assured me that the Ministers for Health will be responsible for reporting regularly and held accountable against the Health Plan.
I sat and discussed with the Catholic Nun Midwife how the remote PNG highland community she works in manages birthing places with dignity and respect for their mothers. She was proud of her achievement even working in the most extreme circumstances. The birthing mothers are provided with sheets for their beds. They are fed and the baby pack includes clothes, wraps, nappies and soap. This close community respects the Catholic health service and has been consulted in its formation and ongoing performance in successful health outcomes. We agreed to share our resources for the future upskilling course planned for the BIP project.
So different to the story of a busy labour ward of the provincial hospital only a hundred kilometers away which cannot cope with basic human rights and dignity for the birthing women and the clinicians attending to them.
HIV/AIDS was discussed in most forums and it was quite surprising for me to hear that in many countries, the basic infection control commodity, gloves, were often not sustainable resourced to those clinicians who required them at their point of care. I also learned that opinion now indicates that it is inappropriate for HIV/AIDS to be treated in isolation. The diseases are now intertwined with complexities of Tuberculosis and Malaria.
Finally, the challenge has been given to each of us to further investigate ways to achieve the MDG’s by 2015. Think globally- Act Locally” was advised, however, in many countries the people are powerless and psychologically depleted. Involve communities and enable them to participate in the delivery of services and resources. Negotiate best practices however, be mindful
“Do not let the perfect be the enemy of the good”
Janet Askern SI Townsville Focus After Five, Townsville , Queensland , Australia. 05/09/10
As we shared breakfast with Yvonne and Robyn at the YHA, I was immersed in conversation about different levels of SI and its relationship to the United Nations and the Millennium Development Goals. Then a quick get-together at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre to make sure we covered as many presentations as possible. This is a difference from other conferences I’ve attended: usually I have only myself to please in terms of what I want from the program. This time I need to be able to report back to my own club and to other SI members. The notes had better be good.
The Welcome was memorable for:
• Variety of cultural groups present
• Excellent didgeridoo and dancing from Indigenous group, mostly from the local Kulin Nation.
• Aria sung from the first indigenous opera about the creation of the Murray river.
Facts I learned from the Welcome:
• The MDG Summit will be held in October 2010 in New York. Resolutions from this conference will feed directly into that Summit.
• Two-thirds of the world’s poor live in the Asia-Pacific region.
• We have made good progress on reducing the incidence of malaria.
• There has not been enough progress made on Goals 4,5 and 6. (Goals 4,5, and 6 are: reduce child mortality rate, improve maternal health, combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases.)
• There is a mixed prognosis for achieving the MDGs, partly because of the impact of the GFC and the oil crisis.
• Maternal mortality rates are still high, and have increased in Afghanistan, Laos and Papua New Guinea.
• Australia will increase aid spending to .5% of the Gross National Income, most of which will be spent in the Asia-Pacific region.
• Australia has increased aid to Africa, South America and the Caribbean.
• Pakistan will be supported by Australian partnerships with NGOs and UN agencies already in the country.
• When countries have linked development to the MDGs, they have made most progress.
• Improving maternal health has been the least successful of the eight goals.
• Intervention for HIV/AIDS is a moderate success story:
o The cost of medical support for an AIDS patient has decreased from $14,000 per year to $8,000, as a result of successful advocacy.
o We see a reduction in new infections of about 17%.
• 6,000 people per day die of the health effects of lack of access to potable drinking water.
Principles I learned:
• Economic growth is a necessary but not sufficient condition for poorer countries to progress on the MDGs. A Human Rights approach is also needed.
• In designing solutions for a group of people, the most vulnerable must be engaged.
• One disease cannot be isolated from another: TB and HIV/AIDS are two diseases, but it is only one life. We need to be able to deliver broader health outcomes.
This was my first UN DPI/NGO Conference. What a great event to be part of and thank you to Soroptimist International for allowing me the opportunity to go. What was absolutely fascinating for me was the large numbers of young people who attended, young people from NGOs or those who had formed their own based on an idea, a vision, or looking to make an improvement in their world. They participated fully, were able to get their point of view across succinctly– unlike several of the older members in the conference, who spent their minute of question time telling us about themselves in great detail, and also get their question out to the panel. One of the most interesting sessions that I attended was the one where it was run by delegates from the youth NGOs – such as Oaktree Foundation and YEAH! Listening to them and how they view the world is a real eye-opener and perhaps if we understood how they operated we would find a way to turn around our organisation into a positive force that welcomes these younger people rather than turns them off!
The current CEO of Oaktree said that young people are anxious to be involved, they see that if they don’t the world they know will not change and therefore the mistakes of the past will continue to haunt these younger generations. He also stated that young people are activists, they like to rush in, do the job and then move on. However, he also conceded that they made mistakes, after-all how do you learn if you don’t make mistakes. He also stated that if they are going to make a mistake they like to do it quickly so they can move on, rather than dwell on what went wrong. He also spoke of the importance of the older generation working with the young people, mentoring them into roles that would not normally be open to them, again how do they get experience if we do not allow them to try. The Founder of YEAH also spoke on the need for organisational structure which would enable the NGO to have a form and substance but also freedom to do what they as young people felt was necessary to achieve.
The vibes in the room during this session were fantastic. What positive energy flowed from all the young ones in the room – we need to harness this energy and enthusiasm and find a place for it in our Organisation and Clubs – these young people are the life-blood for the future, and if we don’t find a way to use them in our Clubs, then our organisation will wither on the vine and die.
Theresa Lyford- Delegate
SISWP Federation Assistant Programme Director
SI Victoria Inc - President
The Soroptimists from SI Christchurch and SI North Canterbury are all safe. I have checked with both presidents. Some families have lost their homes; others will be without water and power for a week. Schools and inner city work places are closed until Wednesday at least – it will take some time to assess the damage – buildings are getting an X if deemed unsafe and are no go zones. Some have collapsed altogether – and there are places where there are no signs of damage. Both presidents said it was an eerie feeling. I was there on the 12th floor of an inner city hotel on Friday night – and it was the biggest shake I’ve ever been in (and I live on a fault line).
We are fortunate because the NZ building codes are such that earthquake proofing is compulsory. It might not stop the houses being damaged – but it does result in less human loss (luckily no deaths in this quake).
Soroptimist Clubs worldwide overwhelmingly chose Education and Leadership for Women and Girls as the topic / theme for the SI Long Term Project to be launched in Montréal in 2011. The Board has adopted the following working title: ‘Soroptimists for Education and Leadership’.
Here you can read the first edition of the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) that will be updated throughout the year. The next edition of eTIS will be devoted to programme work in this very area. You can also visit the new section on SI's website for more information.
The 63rd Annual United Nations DPI/NGO Conference, held in Melbourne, Australia from 30 August to 1 September, concluded with the NGO Declaration “Advance Global Health: Achieve the MDGs.”
Congratulations to the Soroptimist International and WAGGGS delegation for the inclusion of the importance of empowering women and ending violence against women in the declaration!
63rd Annual United Nations DPI/NGO Conference
Advance Global Health: Achieve the MDGs.
This Declaration is agreed by the 1,600 participants representing over 350 Non-Governmental Organizations from more than 70 countries who met in Melbourne from 30 August to 1 September, 2010.
Recognizing that:
“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood” (Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948)
The Millennium Development Goals are basic to human rights, to human development, and to equity; achieving the MDGs is a moral imperative.
The Millennium Development Goals, all of which affect the health of populations, are significantly off-track for the poorest and least politically powerful people, despite progress in many countries and the increased efforts of the international community.
Significant health challenges, targeted by the MDGs remain. They include:
oOne billion people do not have access to adequate and appropriate food
o2.6 billion people around the world lack access to an improved sanitation facility
oEight out of 10 people who are without access to safe drinking water live in rural areas
oAlmost 9 million children die before the age of five; uncounted more have preventable disabilities
oAt least 340,000 women die each year of pregnancy-related causes, including the lack of trained health care professionals during childbirth
oMillions of people die prematurely of non communicable diseases, as well as TB, malaria and complications of AIDS every year
oAn estimated 420 million people in developing countries have a disability; 267 million worldwide have preventable visual impairment
oHuman induced environmental degradation causes short and long term health threats including climate change
Most major physical and mental health problems of people in low income countries can be prevented or treated by well-informed individuals, families and communities; international and national efforts must do much more to support family and community based strategies.
Communities have a right to a voice and significant influence in policy and programs that affect their health and well being.
Informed citizens play a critical role in monitoring and improving the quality, effectiveness, and sustainability of health and other services.
Financial constraints are being experienced by many countries as a result of the global financial crisis and budget priorities. This is not an excuse to reduce efforts to achieve the MDGs.
The UN Secretary General has appointed an Advocacy Group to build political will and mobilize global action to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
We, the people gathered here at the 63rd Annual United Nations DPI/NGO Conference, are in support of the Secretary General’s appeal for action and we call upon all governments, agencies, corporations and individuals to deliver on their human rights obligations to over a billion people living in poverty, by committing the finances and political will necessary to achieve the MDGs. We call on parties at all levels to:
1. Ensure that national health and nutrition plans prioritize integrated and evidence-based health promotion, illness prevention and treatment services for all people.
2. Actively support, encourage and resource community voices to be heard through active representation in program planning, implementation and evaluation; always including representation of women and men, children, youth and older persons, indigenous peoples, the disabled and marginalized groups.
3. Ensure that all agencies, including donors, involved in health promotion and healthcare delivery prioritize the formation and strengthening of national health systems to deliver, sustainable and equitable health improvements. Provide additional assistance where required to achieve equity in health related outcomes.
4. Ensure gender equality, empower women and expand programs to end violence against women.
5. Ensure governments respect and implement existing international covenants and agreements that will make major improvements to health such as the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, the International Code of Marketing Breast Milk Substitutes, and WHO’s Global Recommendations for the Retention of Health Workers.
6. Change international financial and trade systems so they create equality of opportunity for people in resource poor countries – fair trade not free trade and trade that maximizes health and well-being before profits.
7. Ensure urgent needs for financing are met, such as the replenishment of the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria, and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisations.
8. Significantly expand support for international and developing country NGOs. Coordinate activities among organizations, donors and governments to achieve maximum efficiency and effectiveness in support of services for the most vulnerable.
9. Advocate for the conversion of military spending to greater expenditures on: training and retraining health workers, teachers, and infrastructure for the health and education sectors.
To achieve the objectives outlined above, the citizens of the world depend on the political will and moral commitment of governments and parties at all levels.
In conclusion, it is unacceptable that so many children and adults in low income countries continue to suffer preventable illness, disability and premature deaths each year. The world knows how to prevent and treat most of the causes and has shown that well-focused efforts can significantly reduce levels of suffering. The MDGs can be, indeed must be, achieved by 2015
This Declaration highlights the central role that individuals, families and communities must play in fostering global health. It compels all governments and health actors to respect the rights of communities while also maximizing the effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability of their work by leveraging community knowledge and support.
We thank the people and Government of Australia, the State of Victoria, and the City of Melbourne, for their warm welcome and hosting of the 63rd Annual United Nations DPI/NGO Conference.
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